Darkness. Emptiness. This is what I saw as my eyes struggled to elude the confines of their prison. A piercing howl, the wind was in my ear, ringing through my head. My limbs lay in silence, without a hint of movement. Again, I struggled to open my eyes and with a soft pop, they snapped open. WIth vision foggy like a window on a rainy day, I turned my head to look at my surroundings. As I looked around, my memories churned around in my mind like tornadoes, searching and scraping through, trying to find this place. Alas, no sign of it could be found. If I could, I would tell you, but I couldn’t even tell you my name, much less my location.
My senses began to return, through my fingers and toes, then to the rest of my body, slowly imbuing me with feeling, noise, and tastes. Drip, drip, drip, went water droplets down a little mossy crevice. Drip, drip, drip. I rise like the revived dead from a tomb of branches and moss. Drip, drip, drip. I glance down at my hands and see a stream of rubies dripping through my fingers, crawling down my arm.
The wet, mossy, black pit, with its long clawed fingers, wraps around my body, trying to return me to my dreamless slumber. In vain, I struggle against it, but my eyes betray me.
The next time I wake, I sense the feeling of eyes. Big eyes, small eyes, eyes all around me in this damp, foggy forest. Caw, caw. Caw, caw, went birds cutting through the sky. Caw, caw. Caw, caw, went the birds again, unremitting, closer this time. Caw, caw. Caw, caw. A final screech pierced the air as they shot past me, close enough to slice the sides of my face. As I looked around, I noticed that the fog had lifted enough to reveal a cabin with garish lanterns, surrounded by a forest of bare giants. I crept closer, seeing a shadow move around the house, lights turning off and on as they went. Before I could reach the door, the lanterns sputtered and hissed like a snake. All the lights went out with a flash.
“ I see you’ve found my humble abode, hmm?”, came a voice from above. “ It's about time you woke up.” This voice came with hints of asperity, sarcasm, and curiosity. I looked around to try to find the voice but it was like looking into a dark, endless void.
“Who are you? Where are you?”
“Now, now. Not so many questions at once, friend. Why don’t you come inside and then we can talk, hmm?”
“ If you show yourself, then we have a deal.”
“Very well, then.” With a rush of wind and flurry of feathers, a silhouette dropped from above. Once the feathers settled, the silhouette approached and revealed itself in the form of a tall, lanky man with a bird.
“So, shall we have that talk now?”
“ I guess, but before I do, I have a question for you.”
“ I’m all ears.”
“What is your name?”
“My name is Raptor Skylance. If you don’t mind me asking, what’s yours?”
“ Honestly, I don't know. I wish I could tell you.”
“Don’t even know your own name, hmm? You poor thing. By the looks of you, it seems that you’ve been in a bad encounter.”
“I don’t know what happened to me. All I know is that I woke up in this place with no memories.”
“I see. Let’s get you inside so I can get you cleaned up.” We entered the house and walked through a long hallway to what I assumed was the living room. The room was filled with books, stacks and stacks of books. Books on the shelves, books on the table, books on the couch. Books on birds, books on science, a sea of knowledge. The room was dimly lit with candles, the scent of vanilla and coffee seeping into my nose. I sat on the leather couch, lined with soft pillows.
“ You stay right here while I get the first aid kit, alright?” I nodded my head in agreement.
“Is there anything you would like?”
“ Something to drink would be nice.”
“ Hmm..There’s some coffee, creamer, and some toppings on the counter if you want it.”
“Thank you.”
“Can I ask you something?” Raptor asked as he walked back.
“Sure.”
“Do you know how to fight?”
“What?”
“You know, the rudiments? Blocking, dodging?”
“No.”
“Oh. Well then, how about I make you a proposition?”
“What sort of proposition?”
“ One where I train you on how to defend yourself so this,” referring to the fresh bandages on my arm and head,”doesn’t happen again.”
“Is there a catch?”
“There’s always a catch, friend. The only thing you would have to do is work for me and my boss. I’m sure my boss won’t mind another employee.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it. So, are you up for it?”
“I have nothing else to do, so why not?”
“ I will warn you, my boss doesn’t take very well to his employees acting like buffoons and being rambunctious.There is also a strict hierarchy. You will have to report all your actions to me as your supervisor. Have I made myself clear?”
“Yes,I understand.”
“Good, but first I need you to drink something and stop looking so doleful.”
He walked into the kitchen and brewed me an iced coffee with caramel as well as gave me a brownie to nibble on.
“You will sleep in here, if you don’t mind. Your training will begin tomorrow, so sleep well.” Raptor says as he turns off the lights and retreats down the long, dark hallway.
Little did I know that this day would forever become the bane of my existence and forever change me.